The best Harry Potter movies, ranked

Key takeaways

  • Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban revised the scenes for a more realistic world.
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a great setup for the final film
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a character-driven masterpiece with a dark atmosphere.



The Harry Potter The movies are an iconic staple of the early 21st century, and like the books they're based on, they're beloved by generations of fans around the world. There are many ways to judge the best Harry Potter moviesBased on criteria such as story, acting, book accuracy, visuals, and more.

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This list will attempt to rank each Harry Potter Film based on overall quality, considering as many factors as possible. Of course, all of these films hold a special place in the hearts of aspiring wizards and witches, and it must be remembered that some of the shortcomings of the first few films were a product of the technology at the time.


8 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Nostalgic and comforting, but forever marred by poor child acting and outdated visuals


First Harry Potter The movie is an old classic that introduces fans to the wizarding world, and it follows almost exactly the book it was adapted from. It's a perfect film to revisit at Halloween or Christmas, and for younger viewers, it's a completely magical experience.

but, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone It has its fair share of drawbacks. For starters, the child acting is far from the best in this film, but thankfully, it improved throughout the series. Second, the visuals and overall design of the first two films missed the mark, especially in regards to the exterior of Hogwarts and the castle grounds. The world looks very realistic and settled after the third film.

7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

More advanced plot and higher quality than the first film


Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets It was a marked improvement from the first film, with improved acting by the young stars and a darker, more complex plot. Additionally, the way Dobby the house-elf was brought to life was truly remarkable for the time, and the character still looks fantastic by modern standards.

While there are still some cheesy moments or awkward directorial decisions, it should be noted that the first two films were made specifically for children. The film's plot also takes on another level of importance when it is revealed that Tom Riddle's diary was one of Lord Voldemort's seven Horcruxes.

6 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

A good movie that could be very good


Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire An entertaining film packed with action, but it could have been so much more and it hurt the fans. Several main characters were cut, as were subplots, and even an important explanation about the sacrifice of Barty Crouch Jr.'s mother. Another disappointment was that the Quidditch World Cup final was cut, especially given how fantastically it was described in the books. It would have been great to see the best Quidditch players battle it out on the biggest stage.

Despite these flaws, the movie does a lot of things right. The visuals are great, both the beginning and end are incredibly strong, and the character of Mad-Eye Moody was perfectly nailed.

5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

An overall great film marred by an unsatisfying ending


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2The last in the series, the ending comes under a lot of criticism, but it often distracts fans from the rest of the film, which is pretty good. Problems with the ending relate to Harry and Voldemort's strange CGI journeys, as well as the fact that upon death, the Dark Lord's body disintegrates. In the books, Voldemort's greatest fears are realized, and he dies a mundane mortal death, his corpse emaciated and shrunken.

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Ignoring these problems though, the rest of the film completely delivers. The Battle of Hogwarts is epic, the deaths are sad, underrated characters like Neville, Professor McGonagall, and Mrs. Weasley have their moments, and then there's a deep revelation about Snape's love for Lily. The music is also some of the best in the series, especially Lily's theme.


4 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

A solid addition to the series with few faults

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix A movie that gets a few things wrong but mostly goes under the radar for not delivering many epic or iconic moments. Of course, one of the things that both the book and the film do well is that Professor Umbridge is such an insufferable character that, to a certain extent, the reader or viewer ends up resenting Harry and everyone else at Hogwarts.

One of the highlights is Dumbledore's Army meetings, as there is a great sense of camaraderie, and it's the first time Harry takes on an adult role by leading the group and teaching them everything he's learned. At this stage in the movies, Neville is given a lot of screen time and his character arc is in full swing, it would have been great to see his heartbreaking moments with his parents in St. Mungo's. This is one of the best book scenes left out of film.


3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Great setup for the final film

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 This is one of the most interesting films because it is the first to be away from Hogwarts, while still going to iconic wizarding locations in Britain. The quality is consistent throughout, starting with an unforgettable scene from Seven Harry.

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The dynamic unfolding between the three heroes encamped in the forest is heartbreaking to watch, as they are torn apart by Horcruxes and the terrifying mission they face. However, Ron's heroic comeback is perfectly executed and hope is temporarily restored before Dobby's tragic death. Some of the most beautiful scenes include the story of The Three Brothers and the scene of the tomb in Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve.


2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

A character-driven masterpiece with a dark-brooding ambience

Looking the best Harry Potter Movie, The Half-Blood Prince It's up there and can be considered a masterpiece in many ways. This is arguably the most character-driven story, with Draco Malfoy's tragic actions shining a new light on an otherwise ordinary villain. Harry also struggles with grief for Sirius, a sense of danger in the coming war, being on the verge of becoming an adult at such a young age.

The Tom Riddle flashbacks are another highlight of the film, and the moments shared between Harry and Dumbledore make the ending even sadder. The setting of the film is dark and brooding but punctuated with happy moments and plenty of humor. This balance feels perfect for the final film to depict life at Hogwarts.


1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The revised visuals created a more realistic world for this perfect story

Changes made to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Really inspired and set the film and series for even more success. First of all, Hogwarts Castle is finally surrounded by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and Hagrid's hut with the castle in the background makes for some beautiful shots. The rest of the world also feels more realistic thanks to the changes in art direction.


Even the little things students do, like not having their shirts tucked in, make Hogwarts feel more lived in. While Richard Harris' passing was certainly sad, Michael Gambon's performance took Dumbledore to new heights, creating many funny and thought-provoking scenes. With improved acting across the board, a great soundtrack, and its excellent direction, it's easy to see why it's a crowd favorite. Harry Potter movie This is all on top of a perfect story, which works as a stand-alone, and is one of the best depictions of time travel. Alfonso Cuarón truly did wonders with himself Harry Potter movie

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